How basic mechanical recycling can capture value from mixed plastic waste

Iranpolymer/Baspar The Alliance to End Plastic Waste has published the third of a series of playbooks describing solution models for a circular economy for plastics.

Titled ‘Capturing Value Through Basic Mechanical Recycling of Mixed Plastic Waste’, the playbook outlines cost-effective strategies for recycling mixed plastic waste, focusing on low-technology solutions that can be adopted across diverse global contexts.

The playbook targets countries with early-stage waste management systems, drawing from Alliance-supported projects in Costa Rica, Ghana, South Africa, the US, and the Philippines.

It highlights how basic mechanical recycling can capture value from mixed plastic waste with simple technologies that convert waste into products such as furniture, basic construction materials, and other eco-aggregate materials. It prioritises two key components of the value chain: collection, as well as processing and converting.

The report details the economic, environmental, and social advantages of adopting basic mechanical recycling. Given the low upfront costs, this model is ideal for small businesses and low-income regions. As it generates marketable products, not only does it divert waste from landfills and oceans, it also stimulates local economies and offers work to vulnerable communities.

The Alliance highlighted successes from its projects like the Plastic Flamingo’s eco-boards in the Philippines, CRDC Global’s RESIN8 eco-aggregates, and Ghana’s ASASE Foundation, which provides jobs and boosts local recycling capacity.

It estimates that the projects used to inform the playbook will recycle 49,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year once they reach maturity. Further, it predicts that if all countries classified under categories I, II, III in the Plastic Waste Management Framework implement the outlined solution model, plastic waste may be reduced by as much as six million tonnes per year through an increase in the recycling rate of five percentage points.

“Tackling plastic pollution requires a multifaceted, multi stakeholder approach,” said Jacob Duer, President and CEO at the Alliance. “Solution Model playbooks are aimed at improving the understanding of the many stakeholders across the plastic value chain about what is possible and what else is needed to drive systems change to end plastic waste in the environment and develop a circular economy for plastics.”

“Our hope is that the playbooks will encourage other organisations to scale and replicate these solutions, as we seek a wide range of partners to accelerate the achievement of a circular economy that transforms plastic into a sustainable material,” Duer added.

The playbook follows two earlier releases on engaging households in waste segregation and manual sorting of municipal waste. All playbooks have been developed in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

sustainableplastics